Smartphones leave PCs way behind

BANGALORE: Picture this. Smartphones with processors having graphic capabilities of devices like Xbox, packed with features like ultra high resolution, 10 times more than that currently available, and with 55 megapixel cameras. This could be a reality in the near future and would come cheaper too, prophesied Avneesh Agrawal, president, Qualcomm India and south Asia, on Friday.

Dr Agrawal, who holds over 100 patents, was speaking on ‘Smartphone Revolution’ at the Indian Institute of Science.

“Currently companies are working on chips and processors which would give the smartphone such capabilities in the near future,” he said before a gathering of students, faculty members and visitors at the talk.

“And the technology of the future smartphone will not only be available on expensive devices but also on the more affordable sub-$100 ones,” he added.

That more developers are focusing on applications for the smartphone, with an aim to integrate them into PC and other platforms, said Dr Agrawal, is a trend that is becoming increasingly popular. “This is due to the high penetration of smartphones,” he said.

Smartphone sales in India are currently around 20-30 million units annually, according to the latest reports, said Agrawal, “Though this number is not big compared to the 900 million annual shipment globally this year, the market in India is poised to touch about 100 million in the next 3-4 years.”

“The total number of laptops/PC sales in India is currently around 8-10 million annually, and is growing at a modest 10-15% per annum,” he added.

A one-stop multi-feature packed device, the smartphone has camera, video camera, location devices, internet and many more features. It is also defining computing and is at the centre of Internet.